Making An Engine Hoist

[mspring]

Has anyone made their own engine hoist. I like those that are like a little crane lifted by hydraulic cylinder that is hand pumped. I want something I can wheel around my shop not something hanging from a tree. Mostly used to transfer an outboard from one boat to another.

 

[F_R]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

I'll bet you can buy one for less than it's going to cost you to build one. Check with harborfreight.com

 

[guy74]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

I made one for my shop, but it's alittle overkill for your application. For the uses you have a store bought one would be cheaper and easier. I have one that came from Northern Tool, it works really good, but it wasn't big enough for some of my lifting needs. That is why I built a scaled up version, my homemade one will lift 5 tons with a 7 ft reach to 16 feet high. It probably weighs 4000lbs by itself. I use it for removing tractor and combine engines, or other large pieces of machinery. The only reason I built one myself is that no one offers anything that would fit my needs.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

we use to put a 4x4 cross the trusses, and use a come along.

 

[j442w30]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

I bought the smallest one that Northern Tool sells, I think it cost a little over $100. I have been very satisfied, it folds up to save space and seems very well built for the money. I used to rent them but I think engine hoists are a great tool to have around if you're going to work on boats or cars.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

If all you are going to lift is an outboard, I use a 2000# come-along (essentially a cable hoist). I lag bolted a very large barn door hinge to the header of the small door of my three stall garage. Attach the hoist to it and there you have it. About $30 bucks. All you need to do is push the overhead door back far enough to get the hoist between it and the header. When I'm done, I pull the pin from the hinge to remove the lower half of the hinge so the garage door closes again.

 

[mtsumedi]

Re: Making An Engine Hoist

I have a hydraulic engine hoist (cherry picker) I may be able to let you borrow while you switch over and I'm in Estero.